Vacuum cleaner hose



April 20, 1965 G. E. LoFGREN VACUUM CLEANER HOSE 5 Sheets-Sheet l FiledOct. 25. 1960 INVENTOR Gus rnf E. Lofsef/v H15 ATTORNEY April 20, 1965G. E. LoFGREN 3,179,442

VACUUM CLEANER HOSE Filed 001'.. 25, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.Gz/smf E LofGeE/v HIS ATTORNEY April 20, 1965 G. E. I QFGREN 3,179,442

VACUUM CLEANER HOSE Filed Oct. 25, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.Gusrnr E. Lof-GEEN HIS ATTORNEY' United States Patent Oiiiee PatentedApr. 20, 1965 3,179,442 e VACUUM CLEANER HSE Gustaf E. Lotgren,Riverside, Conn., assigner to Electrolux Corporation, Old Greenwich,Conn., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 25, 1964), Ser. No. 64,922

2 Claims. (Cl. 285-7) My invention relates to vacuum cleaners and moreparticularly to improvements in suction hose for use with tank orcanister type vacuum cleaners. j

Heretofore it has been common practice to connect the oor cleaning toolto the tank or canister by means of a conduit comprising a rigidsection, frequently termed a wand, connected at its lower end to thenozzle and a flexible hose between the upper end of the rigid sectionand the canister or tank. In normal use the rigid or wand section servesas both a suction conduit and a manipulating handle for the nozzle andis usually held at an upward inclination to the floor. Inasmuch as thehose extends downwardly from the upper end of the wand, it has beencommon practice to provide a bend in a tube permanently connected to thehose and removably connectable to the wand. While this is satisfactory jwhen the device is used as above described `with a door cleaning tool,thisrigid bent portion` may not be convenient when an upholstery nozzle`or the like is connected directly to the end of the tube inasmuch asthe angle may be wrong.

In accordance with the presentinvention the aforementioned rigid benttube is eliminated and means are `provided for selectively retaining acurve or bend in the `portion of the hose adjacent to the end `thereofwhich is sidered in connection with the accompanying drawings` whichformpart of this specification and of` which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational View of one embodiment of my invention usedwith a-.tank type vacuum cleaner;

FIG. 2 is an lenlarged `elevational View of a portion of the deviceshown in FlG. l;

FIG. 3 is a view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2,.but with certainparts in different positions; j

FIG. 4 is a View similar to FIG. 2 but of a second embodiment of myinvention; Y e

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2jof a third embodiment of myinvention; i

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of a fourth embodiment of myinvention;

FIG. 8 is an elevational View of the apparatus ehown in FIG. 7,A butwith certain parts in different positions;

FIG. 9 ispan elevational .view similar to FIG. 2, of `a fifth embodimentofmy invention; A i FIG. 10 isa 4perspective View of a complete vacuumcleaner assembly Vincluding the embodiment `shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. l1 nis a viewsirnilar to FIG. 2 of a still further embodiment of myinvention; and

FIG. l2 is an elevational view of the uapparatus shown in FIG. l1, butwith certain parts in different positions.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3,reference character 1 0 designates generally a tank type vacuum cleanerwhich is provided with a motor-fan unit 12 and a dust bag 14. The vacuumcleaner 1t) includes a front cover 16 to which may be removably securedone end of a llexible resilient hose 18. The opposite end of the hose isprovided with a coupling member 20 which is shown in the form of a shortstraight tube. The end of coupling 20 may be removably inserted in theupper end of a rigid tubular handle 22 which usually comprises twoidentical sections. The lower end of the handle or wand 22 is connectedto an elbow 24 forming part of a iloor cleaning tool or nozzle 26.

In FIG. 1 the parts are shown in the position which they normally occupywhen in use. As will be seen, the wand Z2 extends upwardly from thenozzle 26 at an angle to the oor being cleaned, while the hose 18extends downwardly from the upper end of the wand to the vacuum cleaneritl which is supported on the same floor. This means that there `must bea rather abrupt bend between the upwardly extending wand 22 and theportion of the hose 18 which extends back down to the iloor. As abovestated, this curvature has been obtainedheretoore by making the couplingmember 20 .considerably longer and in the form of a bent tube.

However, in accordance with the present invention I provide means forselectively retaining a suitable curve or bend in the hose itself.

In accordance with the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 thereis provided a tension exerting means designated generally by referencecharacter 28 and comprising a pair of rings 3@ and 32 having an innerdiameterslightly greater than the outer diameter ofthe hose 1S. Ahexiblebut non-stretchable member, such as a cord 34 is secured at oppositeends to the rings 30 and 32. AIfthe rings` are no further apart on thehose 18 as measuredV along the surface ofthe hose than the length of thecord 34 the hose may be straight between the rings, as is shown in FIG.3. However, the rings may be slid further apart along the hose 18 by`bending the portion `of the hose between them. Due to the resiliencyofthe hose the cord 34 will thus be placed under tension and will tiltor cant the rings Sti and 32 so asrto cause them to bind against thehose 18 and thus remain in the positions in which they are placed. Thisretains a bend or curve in that portion of the hose between the rings 30and 52 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. When it is desiredl to .permitthe hose Vto straighten `out, one of the rings is tilted towards a planenormal to the axis of the hose, thus reducing the frictional engagementwhich Apermits the ring to be slid `along the hose towards the otherring.

The tension exerting means 28 `shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 may be placedanywhere alongthe length of the hose and hence may be used to retain abend in any portion of the latter. However, it is usually desirable tohave the bend only at `the end of the hose adjacent to the coupling 2Qand in .FIG. 4 there is illustrated an arrangement which ,willaccomplish this. As here illustratedone end ofthe cord 34 is connectedto .aprojection 36 extending radially from -theecoupling 2t) and hencethis end of the cord is permanently fixed -with respect to the hose. Theother end of the cord is connected to the ring 32 which may be slidValong the hose in order to produce `and retain curvature therein, inthe same manner as illustrated in FIG. 2. Instead of sliding the ring 32longitudinally along the hose, it may also be rotated so as to wrap thecord 34 around the hose, as shown irl FIG. 4. This causes the cord toexert tension between the coupling 2t) and the ring 32 which retainscurvature in the hose.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 one end, of the cord 34 issecured to a ring 38 which is xed to the hose 18 at a point spaced fromthe coupling 20. The other end of the cord is secured to a lever 40which is sa pivotally mounted at 42 on the coupling. Thus, when thelever is pivoted in a clockwise direction to the position shown in FIG.it causes the cord 34 to produce and retain curvature in that portion ofthe hose between the coupling and the ring 38. On the other hand,

l when the lever is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction so as toextend along the hose toward the ring 33, the distance between the endof the lever 4@ and the ring 38 is no greater than that of the cord 34,and hence the latter exerts no tension tending to bend the hose. Asshown in FIG. 6, detents 44 are provided for retaining the lever 40 inthe position shown in FIG. 5.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 a strap or the like 34 issecured at one end to a ring 38 fixed to the hose 18. The strap isprovided with a plurality of spaced holes 45 which may be engaged by ahook 46 carried by a ring fixed to the hose adjacent to the coupling 20.Thus, if the hook 46 is engaged in any but the last hole 45, theelfective length of the strap 34', will be less than the length measuredalong the hose between the rings 38 and 48 and therefore will produceand retain curvature in the hose, the amount of the curvature dependingupon which hole is engaged by the hook 46. If the hook Lis engaged inthe last hole, asillustrated in FIG. 8, the effective length of thestrap 34 is equal to the length of the hose between the rings 3S and 48,and hence no curvature is produced in the hose.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 a flexible sleeve 5@ ofplastic or the like is placed around the portion of the hose 18 which isadjacent to the coupling 20. A flexible but non-stretchable tensionexerting member 34" is connected to the endrof the tube Stiv/hich isadjacent to coupling 20 and may be molded in one piece withthe tube. Theopposite end of the tube is provided with a plurality of notches 52which are spaced longitudinally 'along and at increasing radialdistances from the hose. A ring 54 is secured to the end of member 34"and encircles the sleeve 50 so that it may be engaged within any of thenotches 52. 'I'he parts are so proportioned that when the ring 54engages the last notch 52, as shown in FIG. 9, it imposes and retainscurvature in the tube S0 and in the portion of the hose 18 whichfextendswithin the tube. The degree of curvature may be varied by engaging thering 54 in different notches and the ring may be disengaged from all ofthe notches if it is desired to have the hose extend straight.

A foot 56 may extend in a generally radial direction from the end ofsleeve adjacent to coupling 20 for the purpose of providing a supportfor holding the wand and hose in an upright position. As illustrated inFIG. 10, the lower end of foot 56 may be placed on any convenientsurface, such as the top of table 58 for the purpose of holding the wandand hose. It is convenient to rest the parts in this manner when theoperator is temporarily called away, thus making it unnecessary to stoopdown and pick them up when resuming cleaning.

v turnbuckle.

to rigid nature of the tube 60, this curvature is made up of two curvedportions, one between the coupling 2% and one end of the tube 60 and theother between the collar 66 and the other end of the tube. It theturnbuckle is turned in the opposite direction it increases theeffective length of the rods '72 and 74 so that the hose may extendstraight, as is shown in FIG. 12.

In this embodiment, inasmuch as the rods 72 and 74 and the turnbuckle 76constitute a substantially rigid structure, the latter will prevent anychange in curvature of the hose, except that caused by turning of the Inother words, with the parts in the position shown in FIG. l2, theportion of the hose between the coupling 2@ and the collar 66 isretained straight. In the other embodiments, on the other hand, the hosecan always assume a curvature greater than that imposed by the tensionexerting means; However, dueto the resiliency of the hose, it alwaystends to straighten itself out, and therefore the tension exertingmeans, working against this tendency, retains curvature in the hose.

It will thus be seen that in all of the embodiments a tension exertingmeans is provided for retaining curvaturein a desired portion of theresilient hose, thus doing away with the necessity of a separaterigidbent tube and making it possible to have the entire hose straight whenthis is desired. k

While I have shown several embodiments of my invention it is to beunderstood ythat this has been done for purposes of illustration onlyand that its scope is not to be limited thereby, but is to be determinedfrom the appended claims.

What I claim is: Y

l. In a vacuum cleaner conduit, a resilient hose, a coupling membersecured to said hose, a flexible sleeve surrounding a portion of saidhose adjacent to said coupling, an elongated tension exerting membersecured at one end to one end of said sleeve, the other end of saidsleeve being formed with a plurality `of notches spaced lengthwise ofthehose, and means on the other end of said tension member selectivelyengageable with said notches for retaining curvature in said sleeve andin the portion of the hose within the sleeve.

2. In a vacuum cleaner conduit, Ya resilient hose, a coupling membersecured to said hose, a flexible sleeve surrounding a portion of saidhose adjacent to said coupling, an elongated tension exerting mem-bersecured at one end to one end of said. sleeve, a supportingmembersecured to said one end of said sleeve and extending therefrom in. agenerally radial direction for retaining said hose on a supportingsurface, the other end of said sleeve being formed with a pluralityk ofnotches spaced lengthwise of thel hose, and means on the other end ofsaid tension member selectively engageable with said notches forretaining curvature in saidl sleeve and in the portion of the hosewithin the sleeve.

In the embodimtnts illustrated inFIGS ll and 12 a rigid tube 60surrounds the portion ofthe hose 18 adjacent Y to the coupling 20. Oneend of the tube 60 is pivotally connected at 62 to the coupling 20,while the other end of the tube is pivotally connected at 64 to collar66 which surrounds the hose 18 but may slide axially with respectthereto. The coupling 20 is provided with an arm 68 extending radiallytherefrom while the collar- 66 is provided with a 4similar arm 70, bothof these arms extend radially yfrom the same side of the hose. A pair ofrods 72 and 74 coupled by means of a turnbuckle 76 are connected betweenthe arms 68 and '70. Thus, turning the turnbuckle 76 in one directiondraws the arms 68 and 70 towards each other, as shown in FIG. 11, so asto produce and retain curvature'in the hose `between the coupling 20 andthe collar 66. n Actually, due

References lCited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS CARL W. TOMLIN,Primary Examiner. HUNTER C. BOURNE, Examiner.

1. IN A VACUUM CLEANER CONDUIT, A RESILIENT HOSE, A COUPLING MEMBERSECURED TO SAID HOSE, A FLEXIBLE SLEEVE SURROUNDING A PORTION OF SAIDHOSE ADJACENT TO SAID COUPLING, AN ELONGATED TENSION EXERTING MEMBERSECURED AT ONE END TO ONE END OF SAID SLEEVE, THE OTHER END OF SAIDSLEEVE BEING FORMED WITH A PLURALITY OF NOTCHES SPACED LENGTHWISE OF THEHOSE, AND MEANS ON THE OTHER END OF SAID TENSION MEMBER SELECTIVELYENGAGEABLE WITH SAID NOTCHES FOR RETAINING CURVATURE IN SAID SLEEVE ANDIN THE PORTION OF THE HOSE WITHIN THE SLEEVE.